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FROM RABBI ELLIOT J. COSGROVE

Invitation to Shabbat

“More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” A H A D H A ’A M

rom the earliest days of the Jewish people, Shabbat has been the tradition that has bonded Jews of every generation and through the generations. A sign of our covenant with God, a time to connect with family, community, and tradition, an “island of time” to unplug ourselves from the stresses of the week and burdensome technology – Shabbat is the temporal sanctuary in which our humanity finds its fullest expression. Most of all, Shabbat inspires us to live our lives with intention. Lighting the candles, blessing the wine, reviewing the week gone by, or reading the Torah portion – we can all find our access point into Shabbat. In embracing the rituals of the past, in passing down new ones to the future, tradition is renewed – as are we. As you enter Shabbat, whether it is your first step or your thousandth one, your Park Avenue Synagogue family is here to guide and support you every step of the way. Shabbat Shalom!

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INTRODUCTION TO SHABBAT BLESSINGS

Introduction to Shabbat Blessings The sacred time of Shabbat, separating us from the everyday and marking the completion of the creation of the world, is rich in rituals and brakhot (blessings) to help set it apart. We invite you to use this booklet as a guide to the different rituals and ways you can incorporate them into your Shabbat practice.

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Bring in the Light

Wash Off the Week

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As daylight turns to dusk, welcome Shabbat by lighting two candles and saying a blessing. Let the warm light of the candles invite you to begin the joyous celebration of Shabbat!

The ritual washing of hands dates back to the ancient practice of cleansing before offering sacrifices in the Temple. Today hand washing can mark the transition to Shabbat as you rinse away the workweek and prepare to enjoy a Shabbat meal.

L’dor Va-dor: Begin with Blessings PAGE 9

If you have children, begin the evening with a special blessing for them recalling the words of the priestly blessing recited in the Temple in Jerusalem. Feel free to add your own blessing with all you wish for them. Not physically near the children (young or grown!) in your life? Try a Friday afternoon phone call or video chat!

Break Bread PAGE 15

Two loaves of challah symbolize the double portion of manna the Israelites received on Fridays to sustain them through Shabbat. In another moment of sanctification, say a blessing over the challah and savor its flavor and nourishment.

End with Gratitude PAGE 17

Make it Holy PAGE 10

Mark the day of Shabbat and make it holy by reciting Kiddush over wine or grape juice at the start of your meal. Wish each other l’chaim! – to life! – to express gratitude for the presence of those sharing Shabbat with you.

At the conclusion of your meal, pause to express appreciation for the food you enjoyed and for all the blessings in your life!

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Candle Lighting

CANDLE LIGHTING

Light the candles. Then cover your eyes and close them when you say the blessing. Pause to add your own personal prayer if you wish, and then open your eyes to rejoice in the candles’ light.

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel shabbat.

Blessed are you Adonai, our God, ruler of time and space, who has made us holy though mitzvot, and instructed us to light the Shabbat candles.

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Blessing the Children

BLESSING THE CHILDREN

Place your hands on your children’s heads as you recite this ancient blessing. If you like, add your own blessings tailored to each child. Y’sim’kha elohim

[he/him]

Y’simekh elohim

[she/her]

Y’sim’khem elohim

[they/them]

k’efrayim v’khi-menashe, k’sarah, rivkah, rahel, v’leah. Y’varekh’kha Adonai v’yishm’rekha. Ya·er Adonai panav eilekha vihuneka. Yisa Adonai panav eilekha v’yasem l’kha shalom.

May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe, like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. May Adonai bless and protect you. May Adonai’s countenance shine upon you. May Adonai’s countenance be lifted toward you and may Adonai grant you peace. (Numbers 6:23-27)

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Kiddush

KIDDUSH

Enjoy the taste of the wine or grape juice and let it remind you of the holiness (kedushah) that always surrounds us if we can just remember to notice it. SHORT KIDDUSH

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, borei pri ha-gafen.

Blessed are you Adonai our God, ruler of time and space, creator of the fruit of the vine.

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KIDDUSH

some people begin with this paragraph (genesis 1:31-2:3):

FULL KIDDUSH

some people begin with this paragraph (genesis 1:31-2:3):

Va-y’hi erev va-y’hi voker, yom ha-shishi. Va-y’khulu ha-shamayim v’ha-aretz v’khol tz’va·am. Va-y’khal elohim ba-yom ha-shvi·i melakhto asher asah. Va-yishbot ba-yom ha-shvi·i mikol melakhto asher asah. Va-y’varekh elohim et yom ha-shvi·i va-y’kadesh oto. Ki vo shavat mikol melakhto asher bara elohim la·asot. begin or continue with full kiddush here:

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, borei pri ha-gafen.

begin or continue with full kiddush here:

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’ratzah vanu, v’shabbat kodsho b’ahavah u-v’ratzon hinhilanu zikaron l’ma·aseh v’reishit. Ki hu yom t’hilah l’mikra·ei kodesh, zekher litzi·at mitzrayim. Ki vanu vaharta v’otanu kidashta mikol ha-amim, v’shabbat kodsh’kha b’ahavah u-v’ratzon hinhaltanu. Barukh atah Adonai, m’kadesh ha-shabbat.

some people begin with this paragraph (genesis 1:31-2:3):

And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. The heavens and the earth, and all they contain, were completed. On the seventh day God finished the work, ceasing from all work on the seventh day. Then God blessed the seventh day, making it holy, for on it God ceased from all the work of creation. begin or continue with full kiddush here:

Blessed are you Adonai our God, ruler of time and space, creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, ruler of time and space, who wanted us and made us holy through mitzvot, and who lovingly and willingly gave us Shabbat, a measure of God’s holiness, a symbol of creation. It is the first of sacred times, a symbol of the Exodus from Egypt. You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all peoples by lovingly and willingly giving us Your holy Shabbat. Blessed are you Adonai, who makes Shabbat holy. 12

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Hand Washing

HAND WASHING

Fill a cup with water, pour the water over each hand two or three times, and let the splash and the feel of the water refresh you.

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.

Blessed are you Adonai, our God, ruler of time and space, who has made us holy through mitzvot, and commanded us to wash hands.

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MOTZI

Motzi

Uncover the two challahs, and as you say the blessing, pause for a moment of gratitude for all those who helped bring this bread into being: the farmers, the bakers, the truckers, and the shopkeepers.

Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, ha-motzi lehem min ha-aretz.

Blessed are you Adonai, our God, ruler of time and space, who brings bread from the earth.

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Blessing After the Meal

BLESSING AFTER THE MEAL

Be grateful for the bounty, the variety, and the accessibility of the food we are blessed to enjoy. this is an abridged version of birkat ha-mazon, the blessing after a meal. when time is short, an option is to say only the first paragraph or even just the line in bold.

you may pause here and invite everyone around the table to share something they are grateful for. then continue:

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BLESSING AFTER THE MEAL

Barukh atah Adonai, eloheinu melekh ha-olam, hazan et ha-olam kulo b’tuvo b’hein b’hesed u-v’rahamim. Hu noten lehem l’khol basar ki l’olam hasdo. U-v’tuvo ha-gadol tamid lo hasar lanu, v’al yehsar lanu mazon l’olam va-ed, ba·avur sh’mo ha-gadol. Ki hu el zan u-m’farneis lakol, u-meitiv lakol, u-meikhin mazon l’khol b’riyotav asher bara. Barukh atah Adonai, hazan et hakol. you may pause here and invite everyone around the table to share something they are grateful for. then continue:

Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya·aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol yisrael [v’al kol yosh’vei teiveil], v’imru: amen.

Blessed are you Adonai, our God, ruler of time and space, who with goodness and graciousness, love and compassion, nourishes the entire world; God provides bread for all flesh, for God’s kindness and love are eternal. In accord with God’s great name, in God’s continual and abundant goodness we have not lacked, nor will we ever lack, sustenance. For God nourishes and sustains all and is good to all, preparing nourishment for all that God has created. Blessed are you Adonai, who provides food for all. you may pause here and invite everyone around the table to share something they are grateful for. then continue:

May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to us and to all Israel [and to all who dwell on earth]. And we say: Amen.

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TABLE TOPICS

Table Topics Our tradition teaches that any conversation can be infused with holiness when we bring Jewish values to the discussion and treat all participants with respect.

• What is one highlight and one lowlight from the past week?

• What is something you learned during the past week?

• Do you have a favorite Shabbat tradition?

• Which historical or literary figures would you want to invite to Shabbat dinner?

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• Our closing blessing thanks God “who provides food for all,” but we know that many people in the world do not have enough to eat. How do you understand this contradiction?

• What music do you like to listen to? Is there a song you’d like to sing right now?

• What is the best book you’ve read lately?

• Have you tasted any new foods recently that you would recommend?

• Who is your favorite character in the Torah? What appeals to you about them?

• What resonates with you in this week’s Torah portion? Are there parts you struggle with?

• What are the headlines of great concern to you this past week in the world at large? In the Jewish world?

• What does Shabbat mean to you?

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PA S Y N . O R G / S H A B B AT S C A N T O V I E W S H A B B AT A C R O S S PA S P R O G R A M M I N G

All original artwork created by Ellen Alt, PAS Artist-in-Residence.